The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1887-01-20
POINTS FOR
A Dealers Chat About Good ana Bal
Havana and Domestic Cigars.

A Dealers Chat About Good ana Bad.
Havana and Domestic Cigars.
philadelphia North Americana
"Gimme q three-cent cigar-strong."
That's what q tough-looking customer
said the other evening to the proprietor of
one'of the most fiourishing cigar stores in
the center Of the city. After he had set
fire to his cheroot n passed out, q re-
porter who had been talking to the dealer
expressed surprise that he sold cigars of
that grade.
"Why, bless your innocent SOUL" said
the man behind the counter, tive sell ci-
gars two for FIVE cents"
Idon't see how they can be made and
sold at that figure"
"But they are, all the same. We buy
'em for fifteen dollars a thousand, and
sometimes less. Many of the uptown and
downtown stores shoot 'em OF at a nickel
apiece"
"What kind Of tobacco is useda"
"Pennsylvania seed tobacco, and it's
mighty cheap, too, or else it couldn't be
done. Then the cigars are ground out in a
| mold"
What do you mean by seed tobacco?"
"Why seed tobacco is grown from the
seed of the Havana plant,' and the man
behind the counter grinned at the limo
cent newsman, as he went on. at is not
indigenous American tobacco. The native
American plant is not fit to make up into
cigars. 1t couldn't be smoked. It's too
rank, and it would break you all up"
Are these cheap things packed in
Soxes2"
"Why, certainly. The Government says
all cigars must be sold from the boxes,
and that settles it you know. Did you
ever notice how these rank-a-peas were
packedi No? Well, they're packed with
the heads away from the lid"
"What's that lone for"
That's done in order not to bring the
shape of the cigar into prominence. OF
course they're not beautifully made, and
folks who sell them lave an idea that their
defects would show more if packed the
usual way"
'To change the subject somewhat, tell
me what difference the color makes in a
cigar. Is the dark-colored cigar any
stronger han the ight-colored onei"
"Oh, it's mostly fancy. AS a matter OF
fact there's not much difference in the
two. You can see that very readily your.
self. The color Of the cigar is no deeper
h the wrapper, and the wrapper is q
very small part of it."
allow about the genuine Havanar
"The natural Havana cigar is a dark
colored cigar. As it is also a very strong
tobacco, people who smoke Havana cigars
try to get them as light in color as they
can. On the other hand, people
who smoke domestic cigars thinl
the dark tobacco better, and they
ask for them ~ninety-nine cases on
Of a hundred. The makers, therefore, try
to get Havana cigars light and domestic
ones dark. Indeed, some of these cheal
grades Of domestic cigars are actually
painted to make 'em look dark"
How are the different grades Of Havana
cigars known so far as color is con
cerned2'
"The strongest aud darkest are 'oscuro,
but they are rarely made row. Then com
'maduro,' the colorado maduro,' thel
colorado thcn colorado claro,' and fin
ally !claro.' The claro is the lightest ciga
made"
"Do the manufacturers even use cabbag
leavess"
mo, certainly cot. It couldn't b
worked, to begin with, and then yo'
couldn't smoke it. No, they use Tobacco
in the worst of 'em. OF course, that tt
bacco wouldn't. take a premium" An
the man behind the counter winked just
little to let the reporter know he ha
worked off quite a good point. while h
pulled two or three times On his Havana